The Recipe for All-Day Energy

There’s something about the end of summer and the beginning of the school year that makes it just that much harder to wake up. The struggle is real.

Don’t worry, we know exactly what you need – breakfast! And not just a cup (or three) of coffee. You need real energy. Can we tempt you with a sweet and satisfying bowl of Banana Berry Oatmeal?

It’s so tasty, you’ll forget how good it is for you. We all know we should eat foods because they’re good for us, but knowing that isn’t always enough. For us to genuinely want to eat a food, it has to taste great.

If you’re thinking there’s no way you have time to make a pot of oatmeal on a weekday morning, don’t worry, you can speed this recipe up using quick oats.

By substituting quick oats for rolled oats, you can cut the cooking time of this recipe down from 10 to 12 minutes to just five minutes. Even the busiest of us can usually manage five minutes in the morning.

When it comes to getting your day off to a good start, remember, carbohydrates are our friends. Our bodies need carbs to get energized for the day, especially slow-digesting complex carbs that are found in oats. Unlike simple carbs that digest quickly, give us a quick boost and then send us crashing before noon (looking at you, doughnuts), complex carbs provide energy that won’t let you down.

Oats are also a great source of vitamin B1, which helps your body break down carbs more efficiently so you get even more value out of this morning meal.

And finally, this breakfast will also provide you with up to 20 per cent of the iron your body needs daily. Anyone who has ever had low iron levels knows how tired it can make you. You can get all the sleep in the world and yet you’re still looking for a hidden spot to sneak in a quick afternoon nap, something we have found is highly discouraged in the workplace.

Making sure you’re getting enough iron is important for everyone, particularly women and anyone following a plant-based diet. We added berries for a boost of antioxidants and vitamin C, as eating foods high in vitamin C along with your oats helps boost your body’s ability to absorb iron.

This Banana Berry Oatmeal provides you with a delicious taste, energy from complex carbs and some major nutritional benefits. Now that’s worth getting up for!

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Banana Berry Oatmeal

Ripe banana and bursts of sweet berries swirl through creamy oatmeal. Wake up your taste buds with this simply delicious breakfast for two.

Oat Type Rolled Oats

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 2

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats (250 ml)
• 1 cup water (250 ml)
• 1 cup milk dairy or non-dairy, (250 ml)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon (1 ml)
• pinch salt
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar optional, (15 ml)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (2.5 ml)
• 1 banana sliced
• 1 cup berries fresh or frozen, thawed (250 ml)

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, bring water and milk to a simmer.
2. Stir in oats, cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
3. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until oats are tender and liquid has been absorbed.
4. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar (if using) and vanilla.
5. Gently fold in banana and berries (reserve a few for garnish).
6. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
7. Divide oatmeal between two bowls and garnish with reserved fruit.

Note:

1. In a hurry? Substitute 1 cup (250 ml) of quick oats (not instant) for the rolled oats. Simmer for 5 minutes in step 3.

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